TechForce campaign focuses on increasing the number of qualified technicians

FutureTech Success™ is a first of its kind initiative aimed at young people and their influencers

Scottsdale, Ariz. – Oct. 31, 2017 — TechForce Foundation, a non-profit organization championing and aiding aspiring vehicle technicians, has launched a first of its kind campaign to help provide an ongoing stream of qualified technicians to North American vehicle repair businesses.

Created by Greg Settle, TechForce Director of National Initiatives, and Jennifer Maher, TechForce CEO/Executive Director, the campaign is called FutureTech Success™. Its purpose is threefold: 1) to give middle- and high-school students, parents and influencers the tools and experiences to recognize and foster tactile intelligence, 2) to help reposition the image of the profession; and 3) to help the industry speak with a collective voice with regard to its workforce development needs.

To the first point, Settle said, “Our goal is to identify and provide naturally talented tactile learners with the after school programs, clubs and activities, mentors and experiences that allow them to engage with the highly advanced and rapidly expanding world of vehicle technology so they — and their parents and influencers — understand there are prosperous technical career opportunities that they may not have considered.”

To help drive the campaign to students, parents and influencers, TechForce created a website — www.futuretechsuccess.org — that contains all of the pertinent information needed for students to ascertain their interest and aptitude for a technical career. To assist students in their quest to become technicians, a number of resources are presented, including after school and summer camp programs, a listing of technical schools, available internships and scholarships, a job board, needed certifications, industry events and industry associations.

Also, through the FutureTech Success™ campaign, TechForce will serve as the “collective hub,” harnessing the myriad of excellent resources that exist throughout the industry, collecting, packaging and presenting them in a one-stop- shop microsite that speaks to future techs and their parents, school counselors, youth directors and other influencers.

Another feature on the site is the bank of videos featuring successful professionals sharing their technical experiences and insights. Likewise, students share their own stories, and also have the opportunity to join the FutureTech Success™ community. In the near future TechForce will launch I-Hub, a resource hub for industry, so that best practices to attract, develop, train, hire, recruit and retain technicians can be shared by all.

The campaign’s second purpose is to help right a wrong that has existed for decades, that is, the “grease monkey” image. “Not that this image was ever deserved, but today it is simply absurd,” Maher said. “The complexity of today’s vehicles rival some of the most sophisticated aircraft —and the technical and computer knowledge, as well as the tactile and STEM skills required to work on them, is truly amazing.”

Moreover, Maher said that striving to be a vehicle technician today is hardly a “fall back” career. Rather, it is a desirable profession with readily available and unlimited opportunities that cut across several market segments ranging from automotive, motorcycles, motorsports and boats to medium and heavy duty trucks to collision repair and the massive machinery used in construction, mining and agriculture.

“What everyone knew anecdotally — that there is a tech shortage — was recently confirmed in a report authored by Settle and Doug Young, Managing Director of his own strategy consulting company, Wilcap LLC. Called “Transportation Technician New Entrant Demand,” the report revealed that new Bureau of Labor Statistics’ average annual new entrant demand over the next ten years is projected to be 75,900 auto technicians, 28,300 diesel techs and 17,200 collision techs, which is more than triple previous estimates.

“Not only is there a tech shortage, it’s much worse than we thought,” Settle said. “That being the case, the opportunities abound in this industry.”

The opportunity story speaks to the campaign’s third point: getting everyone in the industry on board to speak with a collective voice. Fortunately, that is already taking place with 14 corporations signing on as partners to the campaign: Advance Auto Parts, Autoshop Solutions, AutoZone, Babcox Media, Bridgestone Retail Operations, Cengage, General Motors, George Arrant Enterprises, Interstate Batteries, Nissan North America, Snap-on, Shell Lubricants, S/P2, Sunstate Equipment, 10 Missions Media and Universal Technical Institute.

Additionally, a growing number of high profile industry associations are supporting the effort. Presently, on board: the Auto Care Association, the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), the Automotive Service Association (ASA), the Automotive Maintenance and Repair Association (AMRA), Arkansas Trucking Association, the Automotive Training Managers Council (ATMC), the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF), SkillsUSA, Automotive Youth Educational Systems (AYES), Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF), National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF) and the American Trucking Association’s Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC).


About TechForce Foundation and FutureTech Success™

TechForce Foundation is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) with the mission to champion students to and through their education and into careers as professional technicians in the transportation industry. The Foundation distributes more than $1.5 million in scholarships and grants annually, thanks to its generous corporate sponsors and donors, and is spearheading FutureTech Success™, the industry-wide initiative to help encourage and support more young people to pursue the vehicle technician profession. For more information, visit www.techforce.org.

Media Contact
Jennifer Maher, Executive Director
jmaher@techforce.org
602-550- 0371

TechForce report reveals the severity of the vehicle tech shortage

 

New BLS new entrant estimates are more than triple previous estimates.

 

Scottsdale, Ariz. Oct. 27, 2017 — TechForce Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on championing and aiding aspiring vehicle technicians, has released a new report — “Transportation Technician New Entrant Demand” — that reveals the severity of the vehicle technician shortage.

 

Based on an analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) data, TechForce found that the estimated demand for “new entrant” vehicle technicians is much higher than previously reported. For the period between 2016 and 2026, that demand is more than triple the prior BLS estimates for the period between 2014 and 2024. “New entrant” technicians are those needed to fill the growth in new positions in the occupation as well as replace those who leave the occupation. They are distinguished from experienced technicians who may move between employers but don’t add to the overall trained workforce in the occupation.

 

The report reveals that the newly projected BLS average annual new entrant demand for 75,900 auto technicians for the 2016-2026 period is far greater than the previous BLS projected demand of 23,720 technicians for the 2014-2024 period. Moreover, by extrapolating data from the economy and vehicles in use, TechForce has been able to provide annual projections that are much more useful for industry planning than a 10-year average, which masks the cyclicality of individual years. As an example, in the case of auto technicians, the highest demand in the next five years is 92,071 in 2018, while the lowest is 65,020 in 2021.

 

The demand for collision and diesel technicians is similar. The newly projected BLS average annual new entrant demand of 28,300 diesel technicians far exceeds the previous projected demand of 7,690.  For the collision market, the newly projected BLS average annual new entrant demand is 17,200 technicians compared to the previous projection of 4,810.

 

Greg Settle, one of the co-authors of the report and TechForce Director of National Initiatives, said, “BLS had underestimated the replacement component of demand—replacing existing technicians who have retired, been promoted or decided to find a new career. That methodological problem has been rectified with the new projections just issued by the BLS for the 2016-2026 period.”

 

Doug Young, the other co-author of the report and Managing Director of his own strategy consulting company, Wilcap L.L.C, said, “The TechForce report is the first to provide annual historical and projected demand that also utilizes the new BLS replacement rate. The great benefit is that the numbers now correspond to actual industry experience and explain why the shortage occurred and why it has persisted.”

 

What has exacerbated the technician shortage to the point of the “perfect storm” are essentially three things, according to Settle. “We’re caught in the middle of a strong growing economy, a ‘catch-up’ demand for technicians created by the Great Recession of 2008 and the increasing complexity of vehicles.”

 

As to what can be done to alleviate the shortage, Young said, “We have adequate training facilities for prospective technicians. Our concentration has to be on getting young people interested in this vocation by changing the image of the ‘grease monkey’ mechanic that students and their parents, teachers and counselors may have.”

 

Jennifer Maher, CEO/Executive Director of TechForce, added, “In order to solve the tech shortage, the industry needs to pool its resources and create and disseminate consistent public messaging highlighting the many and varied opportunities of a tech career. Right now, the industry is suffering from inadequate, fragmented financing for the cause. It’s not enough for us to talk among ourselves, we have to pull together as an industry to first, resolve it, and then to stay ahead of it so we never wind up in this position again.”

 

Funding for the report was provided by TechForce donors, including Advance Auto Parts, Autoshop Solutions, AutoZone, Babcox Media, Bridgestone Retail Operations, Cengage, General Motors, George Arrants Enterprises, Interstate Batteries, Nissan North America, Shell Lubricants, Snap-on, S/P2, Sunstate, Universal Technical Institute and 10 Missions Media.

 

The full report and its executive summary are available at www.techforce.org

 


 

About TechForce Foundation

TechForce Foundation is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) with the mission to champion students to and through their education and into careers as professional technicians in the transportation industry. The Foundation distributes more than $1.5 million in scholarships and grants annually, thanks to its generous corporate sponsors and donors, and is spearheading FutureTech Success™, the industry-wide initiative to help encourage and support more young people to pursue the vehicle technician profession. For more information, visit www.techforce.org.

 

Media Contact

Jennifer Maher, Executive Director

jmaher@techforce.org

602-550-0371

 

 

TechForce Foundation announces Partnership with Interstate Batteries

 

TechForce Foundation announces Partnership with Interstate Batteries

 

For years, society has pushed that a university education is the only path to a successful career. This messaging steered students away from exploring trade careers—such as automotive technicians and electricians—leaving most to view these jobs as undesirable with no future. But this is not the case.

The U.S. is home to the second largest passenger vehicle market in the world. These vehicles are highly sophisticated, typically outfitted with over 100 million lines of code and thousands of parts. In addition, they are on average 11.5 years old. Because vehicles are now more complicated and staying on the road longer, the auto repair industry is set for massive growth. Coupled with an aging technician population, this occupation has high earning potential and almost guaranteed job security for those entering the field.

Interstate Batteries is playing a part in changing this narrative by signing on as a main sponsor of the FutureTech SuccessSM campaign, in cooperation with the TechForce Foundation. The campaign’s goal is to eliminate the stereotype of the “grease-monkey mechanic,” by encouraging and providing opportunities for young people to explore and tinker, while informing parents and influencers of the career potential in the transportation industry. By supporting FutureTech Success, Interstate Batteries is championing the technicians of tomorrow.

“This is an issue that affects everyone in our industry,” said Tom Gray, vice president of marketing, Interstate Batteries. “We’ve been wanting to take action for some time and TechForce Foundation has the right message, tools and caliber partners to help us make that difference.”

Interstate Batteries’ contribution to FutureTech Success will help fund marketing campaigns and grassroots projects that will inspire young people to learn more about this industry. The donation will also provide resources for parents, schools and other influencers to help identify young person’s natural tactile intelligence, which translates to some of the skills necessary to be a technician.

With the support of its corporate and association sponsors, such as Interstate Batteries, Nissan, Pennzoil, and General Motors, TechForce Foundation seeks to enact great change, unifying the transportation industry to encourage young, tactile-minded individuals to consider the industry for what it truly is: innovative, exciting and filled with opportunity.

For more information on TechForce Foundation, visit: www.techforce.org.


About TechForce Foundation
TechForce Foundation is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3), with the mission to champion students to and through their technical education and into careers as professional technicians for the transportation industry. TechForce Foundation awards more than $1 million in scholarships and grants annually to students facing financial hardship so they may obtain their post-secondary technical education. Additionally, TechForce leads the FutureTech SuccessSM campaign, an industry-wide initiative to drive tomorrow’s workforce of technicians by inspiring, supporting and connecting middle- and high-school students and their influencers with the resources to support their technical education and career development. For more information visit www.techforce.org.

About Interstate Batteries
For more than 65 years, Interstate Batteries® has powered people down roads, trails and waterways and businesses to succeed. Best known for its starting, lighting and ignition (SLI) batteries, this product has been under car hoods since 1952, each one backed by the company’s service, quality and value. Interstate PowerCare® offers premier products and technical expertise for all critical motive power needs, while Interstate All Battery Center® provides portable power in both retail and commercial markets. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Interstate Batteries is an industry leader in recycling efforts, as well as a global leader in safe lead handling practices. Guided by a set of common values, the company’s purpose is to glorify God and enrich lives while delivering the most trustworthy source of power to the world. For more information, visit www.interstatebatteries.com.

AutoZone Supports the FutureTech Success™ Initiative to Fuel Future Technician Workforce

Memphis, Tenn. (October 05, 2017) – AutoZone, Inc., (NYSE: AZO), the leading retailer and a leading distributor of automotive parts and accessories, has signed on as a national corporate sponsor of TechForce Foundation’s FutureTech Success™ campaign, an industry-wide initiative to fuel the future pipeline of transportation technicians by repositioning the image of the profession and providing middle- and high-school students and their parents with the resources and opportunities to foster hands-on, tactile intelligence.

Since its creation, the initiative has rallied the support of many corporate and association partners, the latest being AutoZone, which, in addition to its retail operation, has an extensive commercial sales program that provides commercial credit and prompt delivery of parts and other products to local, regional and national repair garages, dealers, service stations, and public sector accounts.

“We are proud and eager to build the FutureTech Success campaign with the TechForce Foundation and fellow sponsors,” explains Mitch Major, Vice President, Commercial Support, AutoZone and President, ALLDATA.” “We appreciate their vision and strategic leadership in engaging young people in communities across the U.S. in the automotive industry.”

Since 2011, AutoZone has been a generous benefactor of the Foundation, funding scholarships and grants for students pursuing a technical education. The investment in FutureTech Success demonstrates the long-term commitment to students’ development and careers.

FutureTech Success seeks to inform and inspire young people who have the aptitude to thrive in the field of transportation tech, empowering them to pursue greatness in a career they may have never before considered. There are many individuals with the talent and passion perfectly tailored to careers as technicians, and the industry is in need of every last one of them it can get.

“We so strongly believe this initiative has the potential to revolutionize the industry, but it can only do so with the right tools and support,” expresses Jennifer Maher, CEO, TechForce Foundation. “By signing on as a sponsor of FutureTech Success, AutoZone is providing a vital component of that support to ensure the success of the initiative, as well as declaring a commitment to the industry’s future.”

TechForce Foundation and AutoZone look forward to the impact this partnership will have on both the industry itself, and the lives of the FutureTechs who will help it thrive.

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About TechForce Foundation

TechForce Foundation is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3), with the mission to champion students to and through their technical education and into careers as professional technicians for the transportation industry. TechForce Foundation awards more than $1 million in scholarships and grants annually to students facing financial hardship so they may obtain their post-secondary technical education. Additionally, TechForce leads the FutureTech Success campaign, an industry-wide initiative to drive tomorrow’s workforce of technicians by inspiring, supporting and connecting middle- and high-school students and their influencers with the resources to support their technical education and career development. For more information, visit www.techforce.org.

About AutoZone (NYSE:AZO)
As of August 26, 2017 AutoZone sells auto and light truck parts, chemicals and accessories through 5,465 AutoZone stores in 50 states plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico in the U.S., and 524 stores in Mexico, 26 IMC branches and 14 stores in Brazil for a total count of 6,029.

AutoZone is the leading retailer and a leading distributor of automotive replacement parts and accessories in the United States. Each AutoZone store carries an extensive product line for cars, sport utility vehicles, vans and light trucks, including new and remanufactured automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories, and non-automotive products.  Many stores also have a commercial sales program that provides commercial credit and prompt delivery of parts and other products to local, regional and national repair garages, dealers, service stations, and public sector accounts.  IMC branches carry an extensive line of original equipment quality import replacement parts.  AutoZone also sells the ALLDATA brand diagnostic and repair software through www.alldata.com. Additionally, we sell automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories, and non-automotive products through www.autozone.com, and accessories, performance and replacement parts through www.autoanything.com, and our commercial customers can make purchases through www.autozonepro.com and www.imcparts.net.  AutoZone does not derive revenue from automotive repair or installation.

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AutoZone Contact Information:
Media:  Ray Pohlman

866.966.3017

ray.pohlman@autozone.com

Financial: Brian Campbell

901.495.7005

brian.campbell@autozone.com

 


 

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"By connecting students, instructors, industry pros and working techs, the TechForce Foundation provides unilateral support to the transportation industry’s technician recruiting needs… The administration of our Scholarships by the TechForce team has been instrumental in delivering us with a successful method to gain interest from qualified candidates as well as provide our students with additional assistance to complete their education."
Tony Farr
Ford Technical Programs Manager